A recurring musical, literary, or artistic theme associated with a particular character, idea, or situation. The term originated in opera but now applies to any dominant or recurring theme in artistic works.
From German 'Leitmotiv,' literally 'leading motif,' coined by music critic Friedrich Wilhelm Jähns in 1871 to describe Wagner's technique of associating musical phrases with characters and concepts. The term migrated from music theory into literary and film criticism by the early 20th century.
Wagner revolutionized storytelling by making music carry narrative weight—when Siegfried's horn theme plays, audiences immediately know he's present or being referenced, even without seeing him! This technique became so powerful that film composers like John Williams use it constantly—think of Darth Vader's Imperial March or Harry Potter's Hedwig's Theme.
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